Agnieszka Kita

Biomass production by novel strains of Yarrowia lipolytica using raw glycerol, derived from biodiesel production

This study demonstrated the potential applicability of the isolated strains of Yarrowia lipolytica for the valorization of glycerol waste generated during biodiesel production, throughout biomass production. Twenty-one strains were isolated from different environments and identified as Y. lipolytica. Biomass production from pure glycerol (25 g L(-1)) was performed in the shake-flasks experiment. Eight strains with the best biomass production ability were chosen for studies in bioreactor (pH 3.5). The analysis of technological process parameters and biomass chemical composition demonstrated that S6 strain was the most suitable for biomass production. Its application allowed obtaining 11.7 and 12.3 g L(-1) of the biomass with 1.30 and 1.37 g L(-1) h(-1) productivity, respectively when pure and raw glycerol (25 g L(-1)) was used. In the yeast protein amino acid profile the contents of lysine, threonine and phenylalanine/tyrosine were higher than required by FAO/WHO. According to the EAAI, the nutritional value of the biomass reached up to 72.3%.

Characteristics of antioxidant activity and composition of pumpkin seed oils in 12 cultivars.

The objective of this study was to determine the antioxidant properties, and provide characteristics, of the oil obtained from the seeds of 12 pumpkin varieties belonging to the species Cucurbita maxima Duch. and Cucurbita pepo L. Another objective was to establish which of the two extracting agents, ethanol or methanol, is more effective. The seeds of the pumpkin varieties examined differ in chemical composition and antioxidant activity. The seeds of the cultivars belonging to the species C. maxima are characterised by a higher content of fatty acids than are the cultivars of the species C. pepo. In the seed oil, unsaturated acids are dominant (oleic and linoleic), and their proportion depends on the pumpkin variety. The highest content of unsaturated acids has been measured in the oil extracted from the seeds of the cultivar, Jet F1 (C. pepo). Antioxidant activity analysis has produced the following findings. The seeds of the pumpkin varieties that belong to the species C. pepo exhibit better antioxidant properties, regardless of the extraction solvent used. 50% ethanol is more efficient than 80% methanol when used as an extracting agent. The antioxidant activity values obtained with 50% ethanol are higher than those achieved with 80% methanol. Owing to the considerable differences in composition among the fatty acids examined, it is possible to choose the desired pumpkin variety for the intended use.

Anthocyanin and antioxidant activity of snacks with coloured potato.

Coloured-fleshed potatoes of four varieties were used as raw material for coloured flour and fried snack production. The effects of thermal processes traditionally used in dried potato processing and in snack pellet manufacturing on anthocyanin profiles, total polyphenols and antioxidant properties of obtained half- and ready products were studied. There was a significant influence of potato variety on the experimental flour and snack properties. Flours with the highest antioxidant activities were obtained from Salad Blue and Herbie 26 potatoes; however, the flour prepared from the Blue Congo exhibited a much higher total polyphenol and anthocyanin content. Snacks produced with coloured flour had 2-3 times higher antioxidant activities, 40% higher contents of polyphenols, attractive colour and better expansion compared to control samples. The lowest losses of anthocyanins during snack processing were in snacks with flour from the purple-fleshed Blue Congo and red-fleshed Herbie 26.

Content of polyphenols in coloured and yellow fleshed potatoes during dices processing.

The purpose of the research was to examine the effect of the laboratory production of dried potato dice on the content of phenolic compounds in one yellow-fleshed potato variety and four blue-fleshed potatoes varieties. Coloured-flesh potato varieties were characterised by about three times higher amount of total phenolic content than traditional yellow-fleshed ones. The predominating phenolic acids in potato were chlorogenic acid and its isomers, which account about 90% of total phenolic content in tubers. The phenolic acid content decreased by 80% after peeling the blue-fleshed potatoes and by 60% after peeling the yellow variety. The dried potato dice obtained from yellow-fleshed potatoes had no content of phenolic acids but produced from colour-fleshed potatoes contained about 4% of the original phenolic content of the raw material. Chlorogenic acid amounted about 97% of total phenolic acid content, and the rest was neochlorogenic acid.

The quality of protein of coloured fleshed potatoes

Potatoes of purple varieties and red flesh colour were estimated as the important food product containing valuable protein. Amino acids concentration and protein nutritive value of coloured potatoes were analysed and compared with traditional yellow-fleshed varieties. Studies comprised potatoes of 13 varieties: 7 of purple-fleshed, four of red-fleshed and two of yellow-fleshed. There were observed differences between studied potatoes with respect to dry matter, starch and protein content as well as to amino acids concentration and protein quality independently on flesh colour. Potatoes of low as well of high content of total protein, independently on flesh colour, characterised similar protein quality, like for example varieties of Blaue Anneliese and Highland B. Red or Blue Congo and Salad Blue. Leucine limited the quality of majority of coloured fleshed potato varieties used for the experiment. The best amino acid profiles and protein quality confirmed by chemical scores and EAA index values characterised purple fleshed Vitelotte and Blaue Anneliese, yellow fleshed Verdi as well as red fleshed Herbie 26, Highland B. Red and Rosemarie.

The effect of frying on glycidyl esters content in palm oil

The changes in palm oil, as affected by frying temperature, and content of the glycidyl esters (GEs) were studied. Potato chips were fried intermittently in palm oil, which was heated for 8 h daily over five consecutive days. Frying was conducted at three frying temperatures: 150, 165 and 180 °C. Thermo-oxidative alterations of the oil were measured by acid and anisidine values, changes in fatty acid composition, total polar components, polar fraction composition and colour components formation. Content of GE was measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results showed that amount of products of hydrolysis, oxidation and polymerization (excluding decrease of degree of unsaturation) increased significantly as a function of frying temperature and time. Between GEs of fatty acids the most abundant were esters of palmitic and oleic acids. With increasing temperature and frying time, the content of GE decreased. The extent of GE decrease was correlated with degree of oil degradation.

Improving the properties of fodder potato protein concentrate by enzymatic hydrolysis.

Protein hydrolysates of profitable properties were prepared from the fodder potato protein concentrate. The hydrolysis process was performed with the use of commercial available enzyme (Alcalase) over a 2 and 4 h incubation period. Chemical and amino acid composition as well as functional properties of resultant hydrolysates were determined. A 2 h long process occurred profitable to obtain preparations of well balanced amino acid composition as well as proved functional properties. The industrial preparation, modified within proteolytic enzyme, totally soluble (average 98%), was characterised by fivefold higher oil holding capacity (average 5.4 cm(3)/g) and much better foam capacity (more than 150%) as compared to the material underwent modification (13.00%, 2.1 cm(3)/g and 5.33%, respectively). Presented results suggested potential use of fodder potato protein not destined directly for food purposes as the suitable product for preparations characterised by high nutritive value and functional properties.

THE QUALITY OF FRIED SNACKS FORTIFIED WITH FIBER AND PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS

There was studied the effect of fortification of extruded potato pellets, obtained with 5 and 10 % addition of wheat bran, corn bran and corn germ, applied separately and in mixtures with 3 % addition of potato protein concentrate on fat content and physical properties of snacks fried from them. The addition of wheat bran, regardless its dose, did positively influenced on snacks texture. Yet it also caused the increase in fat content and density, as well as darkening of snacks color. The use of corn bran contributed to lower values of snacks density and fat absorption, while the addition of corn germ resulted in lighter, more desired snacks color, but at the same time it brought about increased fat content and made snacks harder. There was not recorded any significant snacks diversity concerning expansion degree, regardless the kind of additive used, as well as snacks moisture. doi:10.5219/54

The effect of raw materials on thermo-oxidative stability and glycidyl ester content of palm oil during frying.

BACKGROUND The objective of this research was to determine the effects of the water content of food incorporated into frying oil on oil degradation and the content of glycidyl esters. Potato chips, French fries and snacks were fried intermittently in palm oil, which was heated at 180 °C for 8 h per day over five consecutive days. Thermo-oxidative and physical alterations, changes in fatty acid composition, total polar components, polar fraction composition, and water content were analysed. The content of glycidyl esters was measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS More polar compounds were formed in the oil used for frying chips (252 g kg(-1)) than for French fries (229 g kg(-1)) or snacks (196 g kg(-1)). Reductions in glycidyl esters were found in oils used for frying--greater for frying snacks and French fries (95% and 93%) than for potato chips (87%). The rate of decrease of glycidyl esters was correlated with frying parameters, most strongly with the concentrations of diacylglycerols (r = 0.98) and total polar components (r = -0.98). CONCLUSION The raw material had a greater influence on polymerization conversion and glycidyl ester content than on hydrolytic and oxidative changes in the frying oil.

Monitoring of glycidyl fatty acid esters in refined vegetable oils from retail outlets by LC–MS

BACKGROUND Glycidyl fatty acid esters (GEs) are a newly identified class of food process contaminants. The main source of these compounds is refined oils. Because of the potential release of free glycidol, it is necessary to enable a more accurate exposure assessment. In this study a method based on liquid chromatography-single-quadrupole mass spectrometry was used for the analysis of GEs in refined vegetable oils from retail outlets in Poland. RESULTS The amount of GEs detected in 20 edible oils ranged from 0.00 to 44.33 mg kg(-1) . Refined palm oils exhibited a several times higher contamination ratio in comparison with other oils (average 31.24 mg kg(-1) ). The average content of esters in sunflower oils (2.46 mg kg(-1) ) was higher than in rapeseed oils (1.04 mg kg(-1) ). C18:2-GE was found to be the prevailing GE in sunflower oil, with the highest concentration in all studied samples, while C18:1-GE was the prevailing GE in rapeseed and palm oils. No trace of C18:3-GE was found in the analysed oils. CONCLUSION The concentrations of major GEs were correlated with the fatty acid composition of the oils. The GE content varied with the type of oil and the producer. The tested oils had a higher or similar GE content compared with those analysed by other researchers.